Thursday, August 13th, 2015 Aaron Humes Reporting: Catches of parrotfish and certain types of sharks have been banned since 2009 but today a fisherman from Sarteneja pleaded guilty to possession of them while also using a vessel to fish commercially without a valid license.
26 year old Guadalupe Angel Verde pleaded guilty to using a vessel without a valid fishing vessel license, possession of 15 whole parrot fish and a carcass, possession of a nurse shark and fishing without a valid commercial fishing license.
Yesterday fisheries officers went to Caye Caulker where they found Verde on board a vessel, Iliani, without a fishing license and with the vessel not having a license. The officers also found the parrot fish and the shark.
Today Verde was fined a total of $1,360. For the possession of the Parrot fish the fine was $150 plus $5 court cost. For possession of the shark the fine was $130 plus $5 court cost.
For using a vessel without a valid fishing vessel license the fine was $200 plus $5 court cost and for fishing without a commercial fishing license the fine was also $200 plus $5.
In addition Verde was fined $660, $30 per fish.